UPBEAT MUSIC Captions by Catherine de Chalain. Edited by Faith Hamblyn. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016. # La, la-la, la, la, la, la, # la-la, la, la, la-la. # La, la-la, la, la-la. # UPBEAT MUSIC In terms of how NZers see me, as a young black person I'm not seen, or I'm seen to be an outsider, like I don't belong here. I'm Adorate. I'm 20 years old. I'm Burundian. I was born in Tanzania and came to NZ when I was 3 years old. Being given refugee status in a safe country like NZ is something to be thankful for, but that's not always easy ` especially as a young person ` when you're balancing cultural identity with the need to belong. I'm going to get you to walk up those stairs there. Yeah, and then I'm just gonna get you to walk down here. Perfect. I'm currently in my third year at university studying media, film and television. It would be cool to be working in journalism. I think my passion for media and journalism mainly stems from lack of representation. Like, as an African, a black person and a NZer, there's no people that look like me that are placed in the media. I guess I'm not` I don't fit that stereotypical image of, like, a Kiwi, but, yeah, I do see myself as a NZer, so to be seen by other NZers as a NZer would be pretty great. Outside of uni, I work a lot in my community. I produce and present a radio show with a family friend. Welcome back to Resettled Radio on Planet FM 104.6. Thank you guys for joining us today. 'The radio show is called Resettled Radio. The show's on every Saturday. 'We talk to people from the refugee and resettlement sector.' But I feel limited using radio as a format, because I feel like not many people are tuning in or listening, so I feel like online documentary-style video would be a better platform in terms of engaging younger people. (LAUGHS) What a lovely photo! I arrived in NZ with my parents in 1999. They fled Burundi. There was genocide and there was, you know, political unrest. My family gained refugee status in NZ through the refugee quota system. My parents have gone through a lot, resettling here from pretty much nothing. There's, like, you know, a lot of resilience that comes from that. Yeah, they've established, like, you know, a good life for us here, so it'd be cool to show them myself contributing back to the community, and, I guess, yeah, making them proud as well, of course. PEACEFUL MUSIC Which would you like to see being done? I want something for youth, but I'm not 100% sure how I'm gonna do that, so, yeah. I think what you should do ` contact some of your friends and let them have a good conversation. And once you get it started, it's like, learning as you do, and then you can improve from there. I think that's the only way you can progress. For me on my side, I would love to see you creating your own way of expressing yourself, < so go ahead and just do it. So I wanna do something, but I'm not too sure, you know, what difference can I make? And I guess that is a little bit daunting, in a way, but the only way is to try and see, kind of, what happens. UPBEAT MUSIC So, I'm gonna be starting on my new project today. It'll be a series of short documentary episodes talking to young people from refugee backgrounds about their lives. I've arranged to interview my friend Vanessa, who's originally from Burundi. Um, she's gonna be the first episode, which is quite exciting, but, um, also a little bit nervous as well to see how that goes, but it should be good. RELAXED MUSIC I grew up with my dad until when I was 11, and that's when I came to NZ. School ` I hated school, mainly because I hated standing out. Mum made sure I stood out cos she always braided my hair orange or blonde, so everybody always noticed. And I hated that, because I was always the kid that couldn't speak English or the kid with orange hair, or I was the kid that was from Africa, you know? So I've always quite, um, struggled and didn't want the attention of being different. I hated it for so long. So, I found it really striking when I went from one world to another. And that was difficult, and it took me a long time to kind of adjust and learn my way around that. UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC I've got some powerful stuff from Vanessa, but I'm not too sure that I quite nailed the questions or that it is strong enough to release. But then again, this is my first video and I've got, you know, a lot of improvements to make. And lucky enough for me, I've been offered a mentor meeting with Carol Hirschfeld, who's had many years' experience as a journalist. Carol Hirschfeld is an amazing role model. I definitely feel like I've got a lot to learn, and she's an amazing person to help me better myself and better my skills as well. In terms of your identity, how do you describe yourself? How do you feel? You know, the question of, like, 'Where do you come from' and that kind of thing ` it's like I can't just say one thing. I have to, like, explain. It's like a little story sometimes. It's so hard. Like, you know. (LAUGHS) I know. I do know. I think I feel the same. I guess when I look back on my own experience ` um, you know, and I started in journalism about 30 years ago ` quite often I was the only Maori in the newsroom, and that could be really challenging. A lot of people just assume ` looking obviously of a certain culture that you know everything about what it is to be Maori. I've felt pressure from other Maori to make sure that I was representing their views, and now, you know, I see people like you coming through, and I` I get really excited about the possibility of having a much more diverse media landscape, because there's these other stories that are being told authentically by people of different cultures. UPBEAT MUSIC So, I think that was a fantastic first effort. What you did manage to, um, achieve was this real intimacy, because it did feel like you were falling into conversation. You were walking alongside her as she was telling her story. I personally would've loved to have seen her in a kind of` a more crowded urban environment, because she was talking about being marginalised, she was talking about being alienated, so it would've been great to see her in relation to other people. Who do you want the audience to be? Of course, young people from refugee backgrounds, like myself. I want them seeing stories that they can really relate to. But, of course, the NZ public, because I want them to get, like, a look into a different world, maybe that they maybe not be, like, too familiar with. So, Adorate, have you thought of maybe collaborating with, um, an organisation,... finding a different outlet for your videos at all? Um, yeah, that would be really cool. I was thinking of maybe, like, the Human Rights Commission. That would be really cool to get them on board, especially cos they're recognised, you know, by the government and NZ as a whole. I think that's the perfect place to go and show your videos and see what they think about, um, what you're doing, because I'm sure they will, uh, be incredibly encouraging and-and` and really understand what you're trying to say. Meeting Carol was amazing, and she gave me so much encouragement, but I feel like I've still got a long way to go. I think that to really get people's attention, I need to do interviews that tackle racism and intolerance more head-on. UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC Today I'm gonna be filming my second interview for my video series with my amazing friend Yohanna. She was born in NZ to Eritrean parents. I'm gonna be talking to her about her experiences growing up here in NZ, but I also wanna ask her some tough questions about identity and racial intolerance. RELAXED MUSIC So, my name's Yohanna Tesfai, and I'm currently studying my bachelor's in health science, majoring in population health. So, I was born here in NZ. My parents came here in 1993. They came here as former refugees, and so, yeah, they came here for a better life and better opportunities. Growing up in NZ, I always saw myself as being a NZer, but I experienced a lot of people not really seeing me as a true NZer. It makes me feel... not so much sad, but really concerned that a lot of people that live here in NZ don't realise that you get so many different people identifying themselves as numerous things and can still identify themselves as a Kiwi. As I grew older, I started realising that I will never be seen as NZer, and that's it ` full stop. That's when I started realising that it was so important for me to also hold on to my cultural identity, and sharing that love and unity is very important. Thank you so much for coming today. You're gonna be the first video that I put out, so it's gonna be really really cool. UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC I felt like that was very powerful, and I felt like for those that were born here and experienced what I did, they'd feel connected to that and my story. Cos I was thinking of, like, putting them online on, like, a YouTube channel,... Yeah. ...but then, like, do you really think that it's good enough to, like, be put out there? Like... Yeah, I do. Oh my gosh, you should. I reckon it would make such a great impact for those that, you know, wanna have a voice but feel very voiceless, and it makes them connect with something and realise that they're not alone. So do you just wanna do it now? We should just do it now. Do you have any ideas on names? Cos I was thinking, like, Resettled Voices, but then, like, it's in NZ as well, so what do you think about Resettled Voices NZ? That's a really nice name. So how are you gonna get the videos out there? Well, I've reached out to the Human Rights Commission, so maybe they may share the videos on their different social media platforms. Yeah. UPBEAT MUSIC My documentary project seems to be going from strength to strength. I reached out to the Human Rights Commission to see if they'd be interested in partnering with me on my videos, and Dame Susan Devoy, the Human Rights Commissioner, wants to speak with me. She'll be Skyping me soon, which is a pretty big deal and really exciting. Um, I really hope that I can pitch this project effectively and also get her backing. COMPUTER CHIRPS Hi, Adorate. Thank you so much for taking the time out to talk to me. My pleasure. So, um, Adorate, tell me what made you want to do this. For me, I feel like young people from refugee backgrounds ` we're not represented at all, and I guess I could go about it in my own way by creating my own online platform where I can share these voices and these stories and... kind of to help everyday NZers kind of understand them and empathise with their stories. It's very cool, and I've seen your videos, and, um, it's just a wonderful thing that you're doing, about educating people about, um, the life of being a former refugee. Oh, thank you so much. That's why I really do want to... I would love to partner with you as the Human Rights Commissioner and your organisation and really, you know, work with you to share the series with others and get it out there. So, you're obviously a young woman who wants to make a real difference, and we know how hard that is to do that on your own. You know, our goal at the Commission is to start, uh, embedding into NZ a culture of zero tolerance for any form of racial abuse. And so, Adorate, I'd love you to come and tell your story at the Diversity Forum, because that's where we're gonna be launching our, um, anti-racism campaign. And, um, we're trying to do exactly what you're doing ` > give people a platform and a voice to share their stories. I would love to be a part of the forum. And do you feel comfortable? There'll be over 400 people there. Um, nerves are inevitable, but I'll manage. (LAUGHS) You know, the one I would say ` when we get opportunities, we have to be brave and courageous, and we have to make the most of them, um, so put your nerves behind you, speak from your heart, and I look forward to, you know, having you come and speak at the forum. And, well, good on you. What a brave project! Thank you so much. OK. We'll look forward to seeing you there. It's one thing to make a video and put it on the internet, but it's a whole different thing to get up and speak in front of 400 people and also present my work. I really do need to dig deep, um, for my next documentary, and get some awesome voices and stories, um, to really make people sit up and listen. BEEP! UPBEAT MUSIC So nice to meet you. This is the big day. I've invited some amazing people to talk about their experiences as resettled youth. They'll be talking about racism and discrimination as well as their hopes for the future of NZ. I really want to make an impact as well as present our authentic voices, because this is the video that I'm gonna be showing at the Human Rights Diversity Forum in front of over 400 people. I'm 12 years old. I'm from Palestine ` Gaza Strip. I'm 18 years old, and I'm from Ethiopia. I'm 19 years old. I'm Muslim. I was born in Iraq, and I've lived in NZ for most of my life. So, I'll start off with the first question. Can you tell us briefly the circumstances that led you to come to NZ? My family left Iraq. We escaped due to the worrying circumstances that were happening in the area. We all have reasons that leads us here. I didn't wanna leave my country, but I was forced to. How do you want NZ to change to be a better and more tolerant place for former refugees and for migrant youth? I'd like to see more support groups working with refugee youth and immigrants in general. I really do want, um, refugees to be more celebrated. I really appreciate you taking up your time to come all this way and be a part of this. Thank you. It's all right. Hopefully everything goes well, yeah? UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC Being at the Diversity Forum is very overwhelming, but I'm so glad that I got the opportunity. Now the reality of speaking in front of all these people is starting to sink in. There are a lot of people here today. I definitely do feel a little bit of pressure to get it right, so I'm hoping it all goes smoothly. < On behalf of the Human Rights Commission, < it's an honour to welcome you to NZ's 12th Diversity Forum. As many of us know, some people have always been treated more like real NZers than others. < NZ is now one of the most ethnically diverse nations on this planet. NZ is also one of the most peaceful nations on earth. So a NZer is diverse, a NZer is peaceful, < and a NZer is you and I. Kia ora, welcome and thank you. Adorate Mizero is passionate about giving young resettled Kiwis a voice. A media student and a documentary producer, Adorate is filming a video series about the journeys of young Kiwis like herself. Please welcome Adorate to the stage. APPLAUSE As an African woman, a black woman, an African Kiwi and a young woman from a refugee background, I see very few representations of these groups that I identify with in the NZ media. On one hand, NZ claims to be an extremely diverse and multicultural nation, but looking at mainstream prime-time broadcasting, you'll see very few real reflections of this. The best place to start was to put myself out there ` create my own series of short documentaries. I'm very proud to present one of the videos for you today. UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC In my perspective I'm a Kiwi, but I would say that people doesn't see me as a Kiwi. People just perceive us as refugees and nothing else. It's pretty hard for some people to say that you're a refugee, because they know students or their friends are gonna just sometimes make fun of them. You do get categorised, and you do get racist remarks here and there. When I get asked questions about my opinions on ISIS or other terrorist groups, it frustrates me, because they have nothing to do with me. I'm just like any other NZer, and that should not even be a question that I'm asked. As soon as I start talking, they're like, 'Wow, you've got pretty good English for an African person.' Little comments like that ` people don't realise it actually affects some people. In my school we had an international day, so we had to wear international clothes. There was a girl who just came to me and said, 'Oh, I like the thing you're wearing on your head,' and I was like, 'Oh, the head scarf. We usually wear it in my culture and my religion.' She was like, 'What religion are you?' and I was like, 'Muslim,' and she goes, 'Ugh. OK.' Since that day until today, she doesn't even talk to me. That really hurts. NZers have that perspective of refugees. It's because there is not enough information being told to them about refugees. We've got such a wide range of refugees in NZ that people don't actually see that. You know, as soon as they see you, you're a refugee and that's it to them. They don't see why we're here ` why we need to be here. I think that the refugee youth actually have a lot to give and have a lot to say, most definitely, and they ha` they can do so much. NZers should give importance to the life of refugees and stop racial intolerance on the spot when they see them. To paint us all with one brush is just ignorant. For me, if you wanna make people happy ` especially refugee people ` just respect them and respect their culture and their religions. They're gonna be so happy. You have to come and talk to us. Just hear our stories. You won't feel that we are that much bad people, cos I want to support this country, and I want to do good things. I'm a human. You're human. We all bleed the same. Why should you ever think, just because of the colour of my skin, that I am different to you? We are all one. What an inspirational talk! Thank you, Adorate. (LAUGHS) I just wanted to say that, um, you know, your story and what you shared with us ` I resonate with that, cos I'm of a refugee background as well. I came here when I was a toddler, but I consider myself a Kiwi, and, you know, we need to show more people that, you know, we're all one and the same. Thank you so much for the advice that you gave me on Skype the other day. It really helped when you said, you know, 'Speak from the heart,' and I really tried to do that when I was writing my speech and when I presented it. Oh, I think you're a pro, really. You know, you're a bit of a natural, and that came across in what you said and obviously who you are. I think you would've got a lot of people resonating with your story and thinking. And thank you for being a voice for young people. We will definitely be, uh, working with you in the future. I think overall I got a very positive reaction from the audience. And a couple of people came up to me afterwards and said some awesome positive things, and, you know, sharing contact details and wanting to connect with me, which is really really cool, and it felt really awesome and I was quite proud as well of myself. I will definitely continue the series. I really want it to grow and expand, and I really wanna work on publicising it and getting people to watch it and see it ` react it to as well. I want to keep giving refugee youth a voice, because there is still that cultural and racial intolerance, and I really want to break down those barriers. I believe that NZ can be a better society if we all listen to each other. BEEP! Captions by Catherine de Chalain. Edited by Faith Hamblyn. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016.